A recently ordained priest is caught between the divine and the carnal when he finds himself in a passionate affair with a beautiful young woman.

"Love. Lust. Sin... Says it all. Remarkable!Kenneth Turan, L.A. Times"Fantastic! One of the most eye-opening dramas of the year!Glenn Kenny, Premiere Magazine

Editor's Note

Gael Garcia Bernal (Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, AMORES PERROS) stars in EL CRIMEN DEL PADRE AMARO, a controversial drama that was a box office smash in its native Mexico. Directed by Carlos Carrera, the film tells the story of a young priest who succumbs to temptation and corruption. Father Amaro (Bernal) is a handsome 24-year-old who has recently been assigned to a new church in Los Reyes. Upon arrival, he discovers that his mentor, Father Benito (Sancho Garcia), is having an affair with a local restaurant owner, Sanjuanera (Angelica Aragon). At first shocked, Father Amaro soon finds himself in a moral predicament of his own. Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon), Sanjuanera's 16-year-old daughter, is a gorgeous teenager who falls deeply in love with the tempted priest. Before long, Father Amaro and Amelia are entangled in a steamy relationship, further testing the young priest's moral fiber. Based on the classic Portuguese novel by Eca de Quieroz, Carrera's film is a scathing indictment of the hypocrisy and corruption that has plagued the Catholic church from its inception. As the confused and conflicted priest, Bernal delivers another magnetic performance, cementing his status as one of Mexico's hottest superstars.

Professional Reviews

Los Angeles Times "...EL CRIMEN is surprisingly adept at conveying the sense of power and mystery the church has at its command, at showing the intensity of belief that ritual and mysticism can inspire..." 11/15/2002 p.C1

Entertainment Weekly "...A potent drama....Bernal's performance is as stirring as a good sermon..." 05/02/2003 p.56

Premiere "...Carlos Carrerra's low-key style and the cast's multifaceted performances keep the film on the level..." 06/01/2003 p.97

Sight and Sound "...Carrera keeps the film moving with quick cutting and a welcome refusal to linger over dramatic moments....He uses a full range of film techniques to hold the audience's attention..." 08/01/2003 p.44-5

Total Film "...It's a cogent piece that works as both a rites-of-passage drama and an expose of the hypocrisy of the Church..." 11/01/2003 p.116

Chicago Sun-Times 8 of 10Predictably, the film's critics are most upset by Amaro's sexual behavior, when in fact the film's real questions run deeper, and are political: Has the church sometimes kept company with unsavory sources of financing? Is the policy of celibacy more observed in the breach than in the observance? Are laws against abortion made by men in the daylight and violated by them in the darkness? Is the church more comfortable allied with an amoral establishment than with a moral opposition? These questions are lost in the excitement about sex, which is often the way it works: Carnal guilt clouds our minds, distracting us from more important issues. - Roger Ebert

James Berardinelli's ReelViews 8 of 10From a storyline perspective, The Crime of Father Amaro offers little that is surprising or unexpected. In fact, the overall progression of events is rather predictable, especially when viewed on a superficial level. The source of fascination is observing how the characters develop and understanding the underlying influences that affect every action and decision. The corruption is pervasive, although, to each priest, it is more apparent in his fellows than in himself. By using the Catholic Church as his compost heap, Carrera has planted in fertile ground the seeds of a story that has universal implications. The subjects he touches upon in The Crime of Father Amaro reflect what is going on in religions and political organizations worldwide. The Catholic Church may be the film's most visible target, but it is by no means the only one. - James Berardinelli

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